The tbbMeter tool is designed to ensure that users won’t be charged a additional fees by their ISP for exceeding their monthly usage allowance.
The meter measures broadband speeds second by second so users can keep an eye out for how much bandwidth their internet browsing is taking up in real time; it also allows users to check that they are getting what they have paid for and that their ISP is delivering on promised speeds.
As providers use ever more complex traffic management techniques during peak times to ensure they have enough capacity to cope with ever more bandwidth hungry applications like video streaming, understanding internet usage patterns can help users to get the most from their connection.
Sebastien Lahtinen, co-founder at Thinkbroadband.com, explained: “When times are hard, any unexpected bills can be a worry. With many ISPs imposing
limits on how much you can download every month, it’s likely you’ll incur a financial penalty or have speed restrictions placed on your account should you exceed this limit, but it’s hard to monitor usage especially with many households now owning multiple computers.
“If you’re thinking of switching broadband packages to save some money during the credit crunch, you can also use it to measure your usage and see what usage limit you could comfortably cope with should you choose to switch to a new ISP,” he continued. “You will also soon be able to compare your speeds with other users in your area or those using the same broadband service provider to make sure you’re getting the best speeds available.”